The Breakdown: After moving to a new town, a young girl joins a band of outcasts that deem themselves witches. But as their experiments continue they start to realize that they might be in over their heads.
Watch If: You're in the mood for a good, fun, creepy old cult classic about witches.
Not If: You're looking to be actually scared.
SECONDARY FACTS
Overall Rating: 3.4
Length: 1:41
Country: USA
Language: English
REVIEW
THE QUICK AND DIRTY
The Craft is a very 90s cult classic about the dangers of dealing with powers you don't understand. It's a fun romp in which nothing really happens, and is neither scary nor entirely not.
PREMISE:4
The Craft is a weird little number, blooming fresh on the tail of the US Satanic Panic that colored most of the 80s and 90s. But this flick is a fun, if bizarre little blend between witchcraft horror and 90s highschool flick. It's entertaining, and there really isn't that much like it. It definitely grandfathered the branding that would go on to influence things like American Horror Story, and many others.
ACTING:3
For better or worse, Nancy has become an iconic character, and that is due, in no little part to the acting in this film. Deranged is a look that I find actors either excel at, or cannot do at all, and Fairuza Balk excels.
AUDIO AND VISUALS:3
The effects in this film, particularly in the context of the 1990s, are pretty great. It helps that very few scenes are heavy handed, but while the effects are generally enjoyable, the cinematography of this film leaves a little something to be desired. Perhaps that's the primary culprit for the genre confusion that plagues the film: it feels like it wants to be scary, but it isn't shot like it's supposed to be. Many of the shots are bland and open, which isn't uncommon for the teen films of the 80s and 90s, but in this particular instance, it gives the film and overall feeling of insignificance.
ATMOSPHERE:4
The only real word one can use for this movie is really, iconic. From the characters to the incredibly quotable lines, and the generally relatable themes of, you know, adolescence, it set itself up perfectly to be a cult classic. And whether that is in spite of its bizarre pacing and identity confusion, or because of those same things, it has certainly solidified its place in counter-culture groups the world over.
DELIVERY:3
It doesn't hold up. As much as I know people love this film, watching it now, it is so cringingly 90s. From the outfits to the actors, I feel like i should be marathon it between Clueless and something like The Breakfast Club. I honestly think that if I saw it for the first time today, I wouldn't like it.
But that's the great thing about the things that make it iconic. It does an excellent job of pointing a finger at you and going "you know you would." Because it hits something in every one, a desire to be beautiful, or rich, or to get revenge, or very simply to fit in while standing out. And that's something that will be relevant as long as there's a society around. And that is why it is, and will always be, so well loved, despite its shortcomings as a film.
Starring
Written By: Peter Filardi, Andrew Fleming
Director: Andrew Fleming
Executive Producer: Ginny Nugent
Music: Graeme Revell
Cinematography: Alexander Gruszynski